Today is Mother’s Day. Those who still have their mothers should feel most fortunate—for there is nothing like a mother’s love for her child.
Others may disagree, but they are the exception, not the rule. And if you, dear reader, are part of the exception, do yourself the biggest favor and iron out whatever differences you may have with your mom, if only because she carried you in her womb for nine months and nurtured you thereafter.
For those whose mothers and other loved ones have joined eternity, I share this comforting poem, “The Traveler,” by James Freeman:
He [She] has put on invisibility.
Dear Lord, I cannot see—
But this I know, although the road ascends
And passes from my sight,
That there will be no night;
That You will take him [her] gently by the hand
And lead him [her] on
Along the road of life that never ends,
And he [she] will find it is not death but dawn.
I do not doubt that You are there as here,
And You will hold him [her] dear.
Our life did not begin with birth,
It is not of the earth;
And this that we call death, it is no more
Than the opening and closing of a door—
And in Your house how many rooms must be
Beyond this one where we rest momently.
Dear Lord, I thank You for the faith that frees,
The love that knows it cannot lose its own;
The love that, looking through the shadows, sees
That You and he and I are ever one!
Inasmuch as our departed ones are one with God somewhere, we are still able to reach out to them by acknowledging their presence in the “somewhereness” of God. So, tell them now on Mother’s Day that you love them and always will.
Russian icons
Before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit, I got a call from my favorite priest, Fr. Carlos “Caloy” Ronquillo. He generously wrote a blurb for my first book on IAMISM, “A Miracle Awaits You,” and stood by me when I included in my book the Reuters report, “John Paul II: Sinners bring hell on themselves,” which I had republished in the mantra portion of this column last week. Fr. Caloy was present when then Pope, now St. John Paul II, issued the statement.
After a long spell, hearing from Fr. Caloy was a pleasure. He, along with Fr. Victorino “Ino” Cueto and Fr. Teodulo “Teody” Holgado, wanted to borrow some of my Russian icons for an exhibit in their chapel to celebrate the International Pilgrimage Congress of the Redemptorist Order.
“Visitors will come from all over the world and we want to impress them,” said Fr. Caloy. While Fr. Teody—who studied the making of icons and is an art enthusiast like Fr. Ino—
was choosing the icons, Fr. Caloy reminded me that the icon of the Mother of Perpetual Help was entrusted by Pope Pius IX 150 years ago to the Redemptorist Order.
Then our chat shifted to the waterfall and pond in my garden. Fr. Teody claimed that Baclaran Church has its own version of it, though it’s really a fountain where people would throw coins a la Fontana di Trevi.
As word about the fountain spread that people’s wishes were coming true, many started throwing bills, which church personnel would have to wash and dry. I said, “Father, that is the best form of money laundering I have ever heard of, on top of which, it is legal. We both had a good laugh.
I trust no one would think of throwing checks into the fountain, because they would end up as blank checks—the amount and signature wearing off from the water.
Great stamina
Emmanuel Macron, 39, is now the youngest President of France. He won on his third cycle of great physical stamina, which he used effectively in his campaign.
People felt his enthusiasm, never mind that he was a newbie in politics. His No. 1 supporter is 64-year-old Brigitte Trogneux, his wife who also happened to be his high school teacher, and the heiress to a five-generation chocolate company. She’s enjoying the benefit of her first cycle of expected and unexpected blessings.
She is, indeed, old enough to be his mother. The difference of almost 25 years between them is longer by comparison than the years between my mother and myself, which is only 17 years.
People have immediately labeled Brigitte a “cougar,” but looking at her recent picture with her husband, you would swear, she was also 39 and an epitome of French chic.
In all probability, she is more interesting as a personality than Macron.
Psychologists say that the ideal marriage, sexually speaking, should have the woman 20 years older than the husband.
No match
If Marine Le Pen had won in the French presidential elections, it would have spelled the end of the European Union because, after Brexit, France’s own expected exit would have had a domino effect on the other countries.
Le Pen, during the campaign, was on her fifth cycle, which is why she came close to a tie with Macron in the beginning. But she was no match on her sixth cycle during election day to overcome the tandem of Emmanuel and Brigitte—
whose love story will be retold like no other.
Imagine a romance that began when Macron was only 17, falling in love with his French and drama teacher and telling her, “Whatever you do, I will marry you.”
Brigitte was 21 when she first married banker André-Louis Auzière in 1974. She had three children and six grandchildren with Auzière when they divorced in 2006.
A year later, Macron’s vow came to pass as he and Brigitte got married. What a wonderful gift on their 10th anniversary
—ah love, dear readers, “We’ll always have Paris.”
Blessing in disguise
Sixteen members of the Commission on Appointments rejected Gina Lopez as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. But then, I am an eternal optimist… every setback is simply a blessing in disguise.
In this case, Gina has gained such a big following that she is probably meant to play a bigger role in government. She can probably top the next senatorial elections and, depending on the laws she can draft, she can work herself up to becoming the country’s next woman president.
I texted her about it and, knowing her, she will probably shrug it off. However, being a Capricorn, I know she will persevere and continue the fabulous work she has been doing for the environment. As a private citizen, she said, she would.
Those who have rejected her and who will again run for national office will see the difference in the number of votes they will get, that is, if they still win. I am “Zu-biri sorry” for them.